Northern Illinois News Association

05/08/2026

The Chicago Tribune has received a Pulitzer Prize in Local Reporting for its reporting on Operation Midway Blitz. Covering the months-long occupation of Chicago by federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, and the continual protests at the detention center in Broadview involved the best of journalistic efforts - interviewing people involved and affected, photographing scenes, verifying and editing the work and presenting it to the public in a meaningful and timely fashion. The board of the Northern Illinois News Association congratulates the Chicago Tribune for this Pulitzer Prize, its 29th.

For its powerful coverage of the Trump administration’s militarized immigration sweep of the city that described in vivid, muscular prose how the siege-like incursion of ICE agents unified Chicagoans in resistance. (Moved by the Board from the Public Service category, where it was originally enter...

05/06/2026

Our NINA board of directors is pleased to announce this year's scholarship recipient, Karim Melek of Palatine High School. He was one of six outstanding applicants. Congratulations!

The Northern Illinois News Association (NINA), a professional organization with member publications throughout the region, is pleased to announce the 2026 John Etheredge Northern Illinois High Scho…

03/06/2026

Congratulations to Denise Crosby, long time Aurora Beacon journalist. She will be inducted into the Fox Valley Arts Hall of Fame!

Celebrating the Class of 2026    Friday, March 27th Tickets Class of 2026: Courtney Reed, Denise Crosby, Juel Ulven, Kelly Barr, Leslie Hunt, Mary Beth McCarthy, Stanley Konopka Lifetime Achievement Award: Susan S Starrett Class of 2026: Courtney Reed, Denise Crosby, Juel Ulven, Kelly Barr, Leslie...

02/08/2026

Congratulations!

The Chicago Tribune named newsroom veteran Stacy St. Clair as the newspaper’s new managing editor Friday.

02/08/2026

Proud to be a part of our NINA board and our statement in support of journalists and the First Amendment of free speech!🇺🇸

02/03/2026

NINA issues statement after recent arrests of journalists
The board of the Northern Illinois News Association (NINA) joins other voices in expressing our anger and concern about the ongoing threats to journalism and attacks on journalists. Journalism is not a crime. Freedom of the press is essential to democracy and embedded in our Constitution. When we see a threat to that freedom — as we have with the recent arrests of journalists for doing their jobs — we must all speak up. The public depends on a free and independent press and that press must be able to work without fear of arrest or retaliation. Journalists must not be silenced.

02/03/2026

Northern Illinois loses First Amendment champion
https://ninaonlinedotorg.wordpress.com/2026/02/03/northern-illinois-loses-first-amendment-champion/

01/26/2026

Are you an emerging member of the journalism community looking to enhance your skills or build your network?

The Tiffany Shackelford Foundation is now accepting applications for Shackelford Shines stipends. It's their way of giving back in the spirit Tiffany did in her lifetime.

At the time of her death in 2020, Tiffany was was Head of Outreach and Partnerships ​for the USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and Policy’s Election Cybersecurity Initiative and Director of CCLP’s Voter Communications Task Force. She also was the Executive Director of the Society for News Design.

These stipends are designed to help technologists and journalists attend conferences and training that will help develop and showcase their talents and leadership.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, but conference season is coming up soon, so don’t delay!

Apply here: https://www.tiffanyshack.org/apply-for-a-shackelford-shines-stipend And share this info with your network

The Tiffany Shackelford Foundation provides up to 10 stipends each year to help individuals attend events and programs that will let their talents shine and enhance their skills as innovative editors, reporters, technologists, or similar roles.

01/21/2026

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/20/daily-herald-suburban-newspaper-potential-sale/

The publisher of the Daily Herald filed notice with the state earlier this month that it is considering a sale of the northwest suburban newspaper.

01/15/2026

https://www.spj.org/spj-condemns-fbi-search-of-washington-post-reporters-home-as-a-grave-threat-to-press-freedom/

Society of Professional Journalists, improving and protecting journalism since 1909

12/04/2025

Such a loss. Former Chicago Tribune Editor Bruce Dold passed away Dec. 3. Bruce was a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, but to those who knew him or had the honor of working for him, he was so much more. He was a newsroom champion, a steady and wise leader and he had the best sense of humor. NINA sends condolences to his family. RIP Bruce.

Bruce Dold juggled journalism and business interests in a dual editor-publisher role as the industry grappled with declining revenue and downsizing.